Grass cutter employing razor blades



Aug, 29, 1950 c. A. HUBNER GRASS CUTTER EMPLOYING RAZOR BLADES FiledNOV. 2, 1945 w. w n N l Patented Aug. 29, 1950 GE FICE' GRA SS CUT TEREMPLOYING RAZOR' BLADES CornelilisrA; Hubner, Bloomingdale,./Nc .L

ApplicatinNivember 2, 19.45, Serial N0. 626,271

The 'invention here` disclosed relates' to ydevices forcutting grass'and weeds', and the general objects of the invention are toprovidepraetieal and desirable means foredging: and trimming lawns andthe like.

Specifically itis the purpose 'of theinvention to provide a` cutterwhich willloperatefwithf a short movement,r as distinguished from` theswinging action cf an4 ordinary sickle orthe like andwhich will `belight in'weight and small in size so that 'it may be used `in'restricted-places and close against. obstructions,"such"as 'buildingWalls, trees and other liked objects.

Additionally it.` is a purpose of the 'invention to provide a cutter ofthe ldistinguishing'characteristics mentioned which, as it' becomesdulled with use, may have its cutting 'edge or' edgesieasily and quicklyrenewed and which `willbe of such design that renewal of the cutting'edges mayjbe accomplished without' danger to `the-usen- Other desirableobjectsandthefnovel features by which the purposes of`the'iriventioIr'are-fattained are set forth or willappcarinthevoourseof the following specification."

The drawing accompanying and iormingpart ci'.` the specificationillustrates-certain present preferred embodiments of theinvention'.Structure, however, may be modiiiedfand` changedas regards the presentillustration: all"witliirr 'the true intent Vand broad scope of `the'.iriventionas hereinafter defined and claimedf Fig. 1 in the drawing isaperspective view'i-ll'u'stratinga simple form Vof -the 'cutterusing'singl'e edged razor blades for the cuttingredge';

Fig. 2 is a broken, part sectionalplan'viewof the handle end portionofthe cutterV Fig. 3 is a broken cross .se'ctibnal viewasonsubstantially theplane 'of line 31-301 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similarview of `a double edged `form of the invention, madeto .cutboth Ways? Fig. 5 is a broken sectional detail of' a form-oi thecuttermade to user double edgedrazor blades;

Fig. 6 Tis` an edge View of:` adoubi'eedged blade and a. hinged form.of...clamp fo'r `securing Athe same in the holder illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is asbroken, part sectional plan View of this modified form ofthe cutter; and

Fig. `8 fisf'a broken, iperspectivefviews of; azmodifled form of bladeclamp forhuserinetlie holder.

As will :besclear from the several views, the invention involves theutilization of razor blades to provide a keen, sharpcutting edge and'thel provision of means `for holding these-f" blades firmly but'readilyremovable'in proper-*cutting relation;

In a preferred formthe holder consists"of a single piece of spring'sheetmetal fold'edl'iupon k:a claims (ol. fao-299) 2. itselffln two steps orstages, a base portion made upoi a rounded back Id` and closelyspacedfparallel sides II and a clamping portion made-up of moreA closelyspaced, substantially parallel jaw forming' strips l2 connected with theback strips I I by theV abruptly indented shoulders I3.

In rolling the sheet or strip material tothe form described, theparallel side portions are tensioned toward eachother in convergentrelation so as to rmlyv grip razor blades which have'been slidintoposition between them.

Figs. l and 3 show how the spacing of the relatively stepped portions`II and i2 is such as to accommodate reinforced back portions I4 of theblades between the more widely spaced parts II and the cutting bladeportions I5 'between the more closely spaced lip or jaw parts I2.`

In nal assembly the blades will be held approximately as shown in Fig.3` with the ilat parallel edgel 01'. jaw portions I2 rmly gripping thesides of the blades back of the cutting edge and the reinforced backportion freely received in the flat chamber4 formed by the spacedparallel side `portions III, in backpf the inwardly contracted shouldersI3. In. this manner the` gripping force is applied directly to .theblades, close up to the actual cutting edge, and the reinforced backs ofthe blades simply serve as abutments engaging the rounded Wall IIl atthe back to limit, inward movement. ofV the-blades in the holder `andengaging the shoulders `It at the; iront to prevent or: limit outward.slipping movement. of` the blades.

The blade holder isfprovided with Ia suitable handle. In theillustration the rounded back. IIJ is; continued at one end .and theedges rolled together at I6 to form a substantially cylindrical tubularextension. This in itself may-be shaped as. a4 handle but usually it maybe preferredto insert awire or rod'extension I'.' in thetubular portion;the. latter being 'offset and carrying :a suitable handle grip. I8.

The shape', lengthy extent. of offset and `other features` of the handlestructure may-be Varied son ' bending of thin razor blades. also theblades are so rrnly held that they candered, welded or other suitableconnection such as indicated at I9.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show how the blade holder may be made to take doubleedged blades 20, by providing a blade clamping insert which can beloaded and then slipped into position between the parallel side portionsof the holder. In these views the same reference characters are employedsince the holder structure is essentially the same, but it will beappreciated that actually the holder may be made with the parallel sideportions formed slightly wider apart to take the blade holder insert,and possibly of less extent in width to leave the cutting edge portionvof the blade sufficiently exposed.

The blade holding insert shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 'l consists of a pairof hinge leaves 2| shaped to the iat, stepped contour of the springholder and hingedly connected together at the back at 22. This insert ismade of a length approximating that of the holder and is used by rstlaying the blades end to end in the opened clamp, Fig. 6, and theninserting the clamp thus lled, endwise into the outer open end of thespring holder.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of insertable clamp structureembodying a U-bent sheet metal backing 23 having relatively wide andnarrow side portions 2li, 25, adapted to readily receive the flatdoubleedged blades 2li, and an insertable clamp strip 26 to overlie the bladesand conned by the narrower jaw portion 25. Vv'hen the blades are made upinto this sub-assembly, as illustrated in this view, the whole may thenbe slipped into the parallel sided spring holder.

The cutter constructed as disclosed is light but strong and the bladesare rmly held with their cutting edges coextensive in substantialalignment and properly braced so as to act as eiiicient cutters.

The overall width of the device need only be slightly greater than thewidth of the blades, so the cutter as a whole constitutes only arelatively narrow assembly which can be reached into small places, asior cutting grass and weeds which otherwise would be practicallyinaccessible.

The lightness of the implement facilitates and encourages use of thetool with a drawing or shaving type of cut, as distinguished from thelong, swinging cut usually required with a sickle type of tool. Thisposibility of cutting with a draw stroke and with a short movement is afurther feature in enabling use of the implement in restricted spaces.

The companion lips or jaws l2, being continuous and flat in extent,reinforce and prevent With this structure not accidentally slip out ofplace. On the other hand, it is a relatively simple matter to removeblades, as by engaging the innermost blade over the edge of a curb orother stationary object and pulling endwise on the handle. Conversely,fresh blades can be easily inserted by entering them oneafter another inthe open, outer end of the holder and pushing them against somestationary objects. Y

These are simple operations through which the blades may be easilyremoved and inserted; Because of the effectiveness of the tool, old orused razor blades may be employed as well as new blades. The edges ofthe blade clamping jaws are shown as straight and continuous. Ifdesired, though, these edges may be serrated, the points provided bysuch serrations acting as fingers to grip the blades. To prevent thetool accidentally digging into the ground, a ground engaging shoe orguard may be provided on the under side of the holder.

What is claimed is:

1. A grass cutting implement comprising an elongated integral one-pieceholder of spring sheet material folded longitudinally on itself andhaving a rounded back portion with spaced sides projecting therefrom insubstantially parallel relation, sharply indented shoulders at the outeredges of said spaced sides and closely approached continuous flat andunobstructed blade gripping jaws projecting from the inner portions ofsaid indented shoulders, a plurality of razor blades in end-to-endabutting engagement in said holder, said blades having thickened backportions, said sides being spaced widely enough apart to receive thethickened back portions of said blades, said blades being disposedbetween said jaws and said indented shoulders being spaced from therounded back a distance slightly greater than the width of the thickenedback portions of the blades to thereby conne said back portions againstlateral movement in opposite directions to hold the blades againstoutward or inward movement in said jaws and said spaced sides and bladegripping jaws being open at one end of the holder to admit entry of theblades there-between and the longitudinal sliding of successive bladesinto final position in the holder.

2. A grass cutting implement comprising an elongated integral one-pieceholder of spring Asheet material folded longitudinally on itself andhaving a rounded back portion with spaced sides projecting therefrom insubstantially. parallel relation, sharply indented shoulders at theouter edges of said spaced sides and closely approached continuous iiatand unobstructed blade gripping jaws projecting from the inner portionsof said indented shoulders, a plurality of razor blades in end-to-endabutting engagement in said holder, said blades having thickened backportions, said sides being spaced widely enoughrapart to rei ceive thethickened back portions of said blades,

said blades being disposed between said jaws and said indented shouldersbeing spaced from the rounded back a distance slightly greater than thewidth of the thickened back portions of the blades to thereby conne saidback portions against lateral movement in opposite directions to holdthe blades against outward or inward movement in said jaws and saidspaced sides and blade gripping jaws being open at one end of the holderto admit entry of the blades therebetween and the longitudinal slidingof successive blades into iinal position in the holder and said backportion being continued at the opposite end Yof the holder and rolledtogether into tubular form for a handle and partially closing the spacebetween the sides to thereby form a stop preventing egress of the bladesat such end of the holder.

CORNELIUS A. HUBNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Date 1,274,139 Clark July 30, 19181,680,824 Thompson Aug. 14, 1928 1,800,905 Rieif Apr. 14,- 19312,369,618 Stern Feb. 13, 1945 2,382,440 Peterson Aug. 14, 1945

